Tim Beissmann

As revealed by CarAdvice earlier this month, work is well underway on a higher-performance version of the Mercedes-AMG GT to go head to head with the Porsche 911 GT3.

Confirming plans to expand the GT portfolio when speaking with CarAdvice at the Paris motor show, Mercedes-AMG chief Tobias Moers has shed more light on the Affalterbach-based manufacturer’s vision for the halo model of the GT range.

“A street-legal version of our GT3 racecar – that sounds like a pretty good idea,” Moers told Autocar.

He confirmed AMG would not copy its German rival by badging the car ‘GT3’, nor would it wear the Black Series label.

“GT3 belongs to the other company,” Moers said, alluding to Porsche. “We will find another name for our car.”

He said while the racecar-inspired GT may not be significantly quicker to 100k/h or have a dizzying top speed, it would offer considerable improvements over the base GT and hotter GT S in many areas.

“I don’t want to make a dragster that’s only good for doing 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds. We need more power, less weight, better aerodynamics and different suspension but the targets should be the power-to-weight ratio, driveability, lap time and tremendous feel.”

While cagey on precise figures, Moers indicated a 10 per cent power boost over the 375kW GT S was not an unreasonable suggestion. Such an increase would take the high-powered version to approximately 412kW. He went on to say that the standard car’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 is “currently very under-stressed”, confirming the potential for the company’s engineers to wring much more out of it.

He also said carbonfibre would play a significant roll cutting between 80-100kg from the GT S, which should see the new variant’s kerb weight fall below 1500kg.

The lighter and more powerful GT will also benefit from aerodynamic enhancements and wide front and rear tracks for greater grip, creating a package that’s tipped to lap the Nurburgring in Germany more than 10 seconds quicker than the base GT, which stopped the clock at 7:30.

Moers gave no timeline for the new model’s release. Autocar speculates its launch may coincide with the GT’s introduction to the FIA GT3 championship in 2016.

The regular Mercedes-AMG GT and GT S models will reach Australian showrooms in June.